Chapter 2

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=james%202&version=ESV

STUDY

• What is the first command in this text? What does it mean?

• What does this text say about the poor man?

• What does this text say about the "rich"?

•  Paraphase verse 13.

• What is faith if it is not accompanied by works? What do you suppose this means?

• What do the demons believe?

• What are the two examples given that faith without deeds is useless?

APPLICATION

• Do you show favoritism toward the rich and neglect the poor? Would you judge the one that comes into your church in shabby clothes?

• What are your thoughts about "faith without works is dead"?

• Think about an example in your own life how good works proved your faith in God?

PRUNING ME

        (Sigh).  I know my nature is to show favoritism toward the rich.  Not that I judge the poor- not that I don't accept them or love them... But for some (really) stupid reason, I try to impress the people with money.  Remembering my blog for chapter 13,  I know that I still struggle with the love of money.  I know my heart is content with what we have and how we live, I know my heart loves the reward of trusting in God for provision, I know my heart knows what is more acceptable in God's eyes.  Yet, my flesh loves things.  My flesh loves the ignorance rich people can have.  SELFISH and FOOLISH and COMPLETELY DUMB I know!  I am not sure why I have those feelings.  It's not something that I think about, but something I know is deep in my earthly mind.  In the book "Search for Significance" by Robert S. McGee, he says that the "approval addicts" feel that they "must be approved by certain others to feel good about themselves".  That explains my my need to be approved my the upperclass. It also says in this book, "Isn't it amazing that we turn to others who have a perspective as limited and darkened as our own to discover our worth!  Rather than relying on God's steady, uplifting reassurance of who we are, we depend on others who base our worth on our ability to meet their standards."

Oh, Father God, how ashamed I am at the truth of these words in my life.  Why do I try to impress those who mean nothing to me and who have such a limited perspective.  YOU know me- to the depths of my heart you know me.  Lord, may I solely find my worth in You and not anyone or anything else.  Thank you Jesus for reminding me of this sin lodged deep in my mind.  Forgive me for showing partiality to the rich only to gain meaningless and ungodly attention from them.  Lord, change my heart.  Amen.

    What does verses 14-26 mean exactly?

     My opinion on it is this:        I don't believe that good works gets you to heaven.  Period.  However, good works that result from faith, do!  It is the faith in Jesus that gives you eternal life- and good works is evidence of your relationship with Jesus.  If you say that you love Jesus, but your life doesn't refect good works- then I would unapologetically say you're a liar.    Loving Jesus and believing in Him are different.  Many people "believe in Jesus"- but as this text says, "Even the demons believe- and shudder!"  Your life should be ever changing if you are truly connected with the Vine.  He will continue to prune you, and you will continue to produce good fruit.  Just as this passage says, good works are a result of faith, just like the examples of Abraham and Rahab.  I have an example- though not as impressive as Abraham or Rahab- but I had a plumber come here this morning to fix a job that someone else had done with our sump pump... remember the "service man" from previous blogs? As we speak, his mess is getting fixed.  Anyway, I had been downstairs a couple times to see how things were going.. The man here was exhausted, frustrated,  and uncertain of how or when the job would be complete because of the hardness of the cement in the sump pump well and the limited ways in removing the cement.  Although I must say, he was gentle spoken and had a good attitude.  I felt bad for him- it wasn't his mistake that he was cleaning up after- it was someone that was negligent.  Anyway, I was doing dishes, going about my day, and I felt a strong urge to pray for him.  Ok God!  No- go downstairs and pray for him.  Yikes- really?  What is he going to think of me- some crazy woman???  (there goes my approval addict habits!!!)  But instead of ignoring the Spirit, I dried my hands, went downstairs and asked the plumber if I could pray for him.  I tear up just thinking of it, because it was an act of obedience- good works even- because I had faith that God asked me to for a reason.  After I asked him, he said, "I just got done praying myself"!  HOW COOL!  I learned that he was a brother in Christ and I really believe it was the power of prayer- of not just one heart praying (him) but two hearts praying together- that the sump pump job got completed and in good time.  Matthew 18:19-20 says~ Again I (Jesus) say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.  For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them."  Even if the two or three are gathered in a smelly basement, hovering over a sump pump of all places, God will be with them.  I tell you the truth- He was. 

• Leanne